Methods of producing isomerization catalysts

Abstract

Methods of producing an isomerization catalyst include preparing a catalyst precursor solution, hydrothermally treating the catalyst precursor solution to produce a magnesium oxide precipitant, and calcining the magnesium oxide precipitant to produce the isomerization catalyst. The catalyst precursor solution includes at least a magnesium precursor, a hydrolyzing agent, and cetrimonium bromide. Methods of producing 1-butene from a 2-butene-containing feedstock with the isomerization catalyst are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of producing an isomerization catalyst, the method comprising:
 preparing a catalyst precursor solution comprising at least a magnesium precursor, a hydrolyzing agent, and cetrimonium bromide; 
 hydrothermally treating the catalyst precursor solution to produce a magnesium oxide precipitant; and 
 calcining the magnesium oxide precipitant to produce the isomerization catalyst. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , where a molar ratio of the magnesium precursor to the hydrolyzing agent in the catalyst precursor solution is from 1:10 to 1:1. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , where a molar ratio of the magnesium precursor to cetrimonium bromide in the catalyst precursor solution is from 1:0.01 to 1:0.1. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adjusting a pH of the catalyst precursor solution. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , where the pH of the catalyst precursor solution is adjusted to a pH of from 3 to 7. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 4 , where the pH of the catalyst precursor solution is adjusted to a pH of from 8 to 12. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , where hydrothermally treating the catalyst precursor solution comprises heating the catalyst precursor solution to a temperature of from 100° C. to 140° C. for a duration of from 48 hours to 96 hours. 
     
     
       8. An isomerization catalyst produced by the method of  claim 1 , where the average particle size of the isomerization catalyst is from 30 nm to 50 nm. 
     
     
       9. The isomerization catalyst of  claim 8 , where the surface area of the isomerization catalyst is from 100 m 2 /g to 300 m 2 /g. 
     
     
       10. A method of producing 1-butene from a 2-butene-containing feedstock, the method comprising:
 contacting the 2-butene-containing feedstock with an isomerization catalyst to produce an isomerization reaction effluent comprising 1-butene, the isomerization catalyst prepared by a method comprising:
 preparing a catalyst precursor solution comprising at least a magnesium precursor, a hydrolyzing agent, and cetrimonium bromide; 
 hydrothermally treating the catalyst precursor solution to produce a magnesium oxide precipitant; and 
 calcining the magnesium oxide precipitant to produce the isomerization catalyst. 
 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , where contacting the 2-butene-containing feedstock with the isomerization catalyst causes the isomerization of at least a portion of 2-butene in the 2-butene-containing feedstock. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , where a molar ratio of the magnesium precursor to the hydrolyzing agent in the catalyst precursor solution is from 1:10 to 1:1. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , where a molar ratio of the magnesium precursor to cetrimonium bromide in the catalyst precursor solution is from 1:0.01 to 1:0.1. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising adjusting the pH of the catalyst precursor solution. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , where the pH of the catalyst precursor solution is adjusted to a pH of from 3 to 7. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 14 , where the pH of the catalyst precursor solution is adjusted to a pH of from 8 to 12. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , where hydrothermally treating the catalyst precursor solution comprises heating the catalyst precursor solution to a temperature of from 100° C. to 140° C. for a duration of from 48 hours to 96 hours. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , where calcining the catalyst precipitant comprises heating the catalyst precipitant to a temperature of from 450° C. to 650° C. for a duration of from 1 hour to 10 hours. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 10 , where the surface area of the isomerization catalyst is from 100 m 2 /g to 300 m 2 /g.